We present a test for long-term couples who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your loved one and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it may seem like conventional biological terror, but inside Together exists a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have remained a couple for ten years. Married in reality in 2017, the two stars bring a particular energy to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The story commences when the couple relocate from the big city to the countryside for professional reasons. A commonly used plot device, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the conventions cease. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim fall into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a slow burn of scares, blending bits of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but never too gross) body horror, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and presents them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and distant from his network of friends. He dreads the idea of totally forfeiting his sense of self in Millie. This fear is intensified by the reality he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in Together refrains from painting Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie face the sort of issues that arise in most partnerships over a long period. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these concerns of codependency and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the symbolism never feels overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for staying single. On the other hand, some couples who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could function as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the finale sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your partner and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform now.
